Is this for real? Despite having a one-year-old, I am embarrassed to say that I had no idea. These vaccines protect our children from infection. I decided to research why this shortage is happening. (News Network reporter Aya Noda and Asako Wada)
Parents are voicing their worries online
Especially for parents with younger children, the lack of vaccines is becoming a bigger problem. Concerned posts on social media are coming one after another these past several days. |
(Image Alt Text (translated): “I heard the Hib vaccine shipment was suspended. I got a call that my child’s second dose will be delayed. This is bad.” “I was able to make an appointment for my child’s first dose, but I won’t know if they will give us the second dose until we come in for the appointment. That’s why I’m also scared.” |
"There seems to be something going on with vaccines for babies," a woman said, starting a thread on Twitter. Her child caught a cold, so she brought them to the pediatrician, and she was surprised to see a notice of suspension of the Hib vaccine posted.
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| (Image Alt Text (translated): Notice on the Temporary Suspension of Hib Vaccine Shipment The shipment of the Hib vaccine will be suspended from January 29. We might not be able to provide new doses regardless of whether it is a scheduled vaccination or a walk-in. We will let you know once we receive the shipment. We apologize for the inconvenience and making you wait. Thank you for your understanding.) |
Receiving shipment of vaccines have been suspended
"Wouldn't there be any possible effects if we delay the fourth dose of the vaccine until spring if the suspension of the shipment is further prolonged?" she expressed her worries.These were the replies on the tweet:
"I was told that supplies have run out and I won't be able to get my kid the next dose."
"They told me that kids who haven't gotten their first or second doses are being prioritized."
The woman who started the thread said, "How bad is the shortage? How long will this go on? I want to get the right information.”
Various medical institutions are also busy dealing with the suspension of the vaccine shipment among other things.
The culprit behind the suspension is... the injection needles
Why is there a shortage of vaccines?Sanofi is the only pharmaceutical company that produces and sells the Hib vaccine in Japan. Their main office is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo. According to the company, they found rust on the injection needles in the supplies of a medical institution within Japan at the end of November last year. A month later, they found more rusted needles at another institution.
So far these are the two cases that they found rust on the injection needles within the country.
Which company makes the packaging of the vaccines? Unknown.
The vaccine comes in two parts.
One contains the sodium chloride solution, and the other part is the injection, which comes with a stainless needle. The healthcare provider will insert the needle into a different container where the powdered vaccine is, and then administer it to the child.
So, where does the rust come from?
According to Sanofi, a different company makes the covering of the needle. After being delivered to the Sanofi factory in France, the vaccine is packaged together with other parts and shipped to Japan. The spokesperson for Sanofi said, "To the parents who have young children and to medical institutions, we apologize for the inconvenience."
Sanofi:
"We don't know why or when the rust appeared. We are considering different possibilities, but we are still currently investigating the source of the rust. We don't know if it happened during production, or if it happened within the French facility, or if it was during the shipment to Japan. However, the needle is made of stainless steel and originally had iron mixed in. We are looking at what caused the oxidation."
When will the shipment begin again?
Japan currently has a supply of Hib vaccines for about 800,000 people for a year. Assuming that one person needs four doses of the vaccine, the approximate number of vaccines is 3.2 million. The pharmaceutical company will continue to withhold shipment after January 28, in order to investigate the cause of the rust.What is the prospect for future supplies?
Sanofi:
"We are planning to talk more about the prospects of future supplies at the end of February." We are assuming that the suspension of shipment is temporary, so we don't have the information for what damages it might cause to our health. We would like to finish the investigation quickly, and do our very best to resume the supply chain as soon as possible."
What is the "Hib vaccine" in the first place?
The "Hib" in Hib vaccine stands for Haemophilus influenzae type B.
The name is similar with the influenza virus that usually spreads during winter, but it is a completely different virus.
The virus can be transmitted through the nose and mouth. Once infected, you can get:
▽pneumonia,
▽otitis media,
▽high fever from bacteria entering your bloodstream (bacteremia),
▽a swollen throat that can lead to blockage of airways (epiglottitis).
There is also a possibility to get bacterial meningitis (inflammation of the protective membrane of the brain). There have also been cases where impairment of body parts, such as ears and limbs, continued and the disease worsened, which ultimately led to death.
Vaccination is the most efficient way to prevent infection. In 2013, the law was changed. The vaccine for Hib, like polio and measles, will be paid for with public funds.
Babies who were born 4 months to 1 year and 6 months have higher cases of infections. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare advised:
▽children aged 2 months to 5 years old should get vaccinated 4 times.
If you look at the general schedule,
▽Between 2-5 months of being born, babies should get their first 3 doses.
Then,
▽After getting the 3rd dose, 7-months-old to 13-months-old babies should get their last dose of vaccine.
However, if the baby starts the vaccination after one year of being born, one dose can also help prevent infection.
Prioritizing people on their first or second dose
The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare sent out a document to medical institutions through local governments within the country about the temporary suspension of the vaccine shipment in January.Until supplies become stable again, they have listed the following procedures for the meantime:
▽Medical institutions have to prioritize buying the right amount of necessities and refrain from making unnecessary purchases.
▽If the unavoidable circumstance where the shortage of the vaccine continues, people who need the 1st or 2nd dose should be given priority if possible.
Healthcare workers should always check the injection needle before administering the vaccine. If by chance they find rust, they must discontinue use and report it to the pharmaceutical company immediately.
What can we do now? Vaccination is still the answer
What is the best way we can deal with this situation?We asked an expert on vaccination and infectious diseases, Dr. Masato Mine, who is the director of "Mine Pediatrics" and a trustee of the Japan Pediatric Association.
"A vaccine is highly effective, so getting vaccinated is very important," Dr. Mine pointed out.
The period when a child gets the first and second dose of the vaccine is extremely important. There is an 80% chance of developing antibodies at that time. For example, if the 3rd dose of the vaccine is delayed for 3-6 months, the effects of the first two doses will still continue. Furthermore, if the 4th dose of the vaccine is administered after a year and a half, the vaccine will not lose its effects.
Dr. Mine:
"To prevent infections, I highly recommend checking with your local clinics if they have stock and get the first two doses of the vaccine. As I have mentioned before, the effects of the vaccine last for a fixed period of time before the 3rd dose. So, there is no need to panic in getting the next dose if a month has passed since the 2nd dose."
Then he continues to give more advice.
Dr. Mine:
"Regarding getting vaccinated after the 3rd dose, it is desirable to get the 4th dose when it is possible to do so. Please contact your family doctor and finish getting all the doses after one year even if you have not followed the standard schedule of vaccination. Please confirm with your family doctor if they have the supplies for the vaccine. Once you have confirmed what their situation is regarding the vaccine, you can make the decision and plan to get your children vaccinated."
Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20200210/k10012280181000.html?utm_int=word_contents_list-items_016&word_result=%E5%8C%BB%E7%99%82
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